Intel and FTC try to settle anti-trust case

Intel says it has a month to make up its mind on a settlement dumped on it by the FTC.

Intel has been been accused of strong-arming clients into buying its computer chips. It announced that it has until July 22 to "review and discuss a proposed" settlement. The chip maker said it would not comment further because the terms of the proposed consent order were confidential.

If the two parties do not reach an agreement by that date, the case could go before court in September. If the judge rules against Intel, the company could be forced to change the way it prices its products and could be ordered to share intellectual property with competitors.

The FTC filed charges against Intel last December saying that the outfit had "engaged in a deliberate campaign to hamstring competitive threats to its monopoly." Intel had been "running roughshod over the principles of fair play and the laws protecting competition on the merits," an FCC spokesman said. Intel paid $1.25 billion to AMD last year to settle antitrust claims.